Keith Cieplicki

College coach infobox
Name = Keith Cieplicki


Caption
DateOfBirth =
Birthplace = flagicon|United States Burlington, Vermont
DateOfDeath =
Sport = Basketball
College =
Title = Head coach
CurrentRecord =
OverallRecord = 155-108 (.589)
Championships = America East Conference Regular Season (1998, 2000, 2002) America East Conference Tournament (1992, 1993)
Awards = America East Conference Coach of the Year (2000, 2002)
Player = *
Years = 1982–1985
Team = William & Mary
Position =
Coach = *
CoachYears = 1986–1987
1987–1991
1991–1993
1993-1995
1995-1997
1997-2003
2003-2006
CoachTeams = Vermont men's (asst.)
Rice Mem. HS (boys)
Vermont women’s (asst.)
Boston C. women's (asst.)
Rice Mem. HS (girls)
Vermont women’s
Syracuse women’s
BBallHOF =

Keith Cieplicki is a former college women's basketball coach and Division I basketball player.

Personal

Cieplicki grew up in South Burlington, Vermont and is the son of legendary high school basketball coach Bernie Cieplicki. [http://media.www.dailyorange.com/media/storage/paper522/news/2003/11/21/200304BasketballGuide/New-Su.Womens.Basketball.Coach.Keith.Cieplicki.Blends.Laughter.With.Discipline-565244-page2.shtml New SU women's basketball coach Keith Cieplicki blends laughter with discipline] . Accessed August 13, 2008.] His brothers are also coaches, and his nephew Kyle is a former player for the University of Vermont Catamounts men's basketball team. [http://www.vtsportsnetwork.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=359&Itemid=47 Vermont Sports Network - Orange Coach With Green Roots] . Accessed August 13, 2008.]

Playing career

High school

Keith attended Rice Memorial High School, a coeducational Roman Catholic secondary school in his hometown of South Burlington. While playing for the Green Knights (coached by his father), Cieplicki set the Vermont state record by scoring 2,049 points. He was the "Burlington Free Press" Player of the Year his senior season and was recently named to the "Barre Times Argus" "Dream Dozen," which honored the 12 greatest Vermont boys and girls basketball players since 1960. He was inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame, and also recognized as one of "Sports Illustrated" 's Top 50 Greatest Athletes in Vermont state history, ranking as #48. [ [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/magazine/features/si50/states/vermont/greatest/ "Sports Illustated" 's 50 Greatest Vermont Sports Figures] . Accessed August 11, 2008.]

College

Cieplicki went on to play for The College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. During his collegiate career he was a three-time Academic All-American and three-time All-Conference selection. He scored 1,812 points before a three-point line was used, which is still fourth all-time in school annals. [ [http://www.tribeathletics.com/files/mbb/2008/MediaGuide/0708mbbguide(71-90)low.pdf William & Mary 2007-08 men's basketball media guide (page 7)] . Accessed September 11, 2008.] Keith was later inducted into the William & Mary Athletic Hall of Fame and also had his jersey (#14) retired. The Los Angeles Lakers selected Cieplicki as the 22nd pick in the 7th round of the 1985 NBA Draft (161st overall), [Cieplicki was picked one draft selection after future three-time NBA champion Mario Elie, who was chosen 160th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks.] though later he did not make the team's final cut. With the NBA out of the picture, Cieplicki decided to coach.

Coaching career

Early years

In 1986, Cieplicki began his coaching career as an assistant for the University of Vermont Catamounts men’s basketball team. He left after one season to become the head coach of the boys’ team at his prep school alma mater in Burlington, Rice Memorial High School. During his four year tenure, Cieplicki guided the Green Knights to a 69-21 record with two state finals appearances. Despite the success, he returned to collegiate coaching in 1991 as an assistant on the women’s basketball staff at Vermont. He was a part of the staff that led the Catamounts to back-to-back undefeated regular seasons in 1991-92 and 1992-93. Vermont was the only NCAA Division I school to accomplish that feat, setting a then-NCAA record with 53 straight regular-season victories. Vermont also won consecutive America East Tournament titles, advancing to the NCAA Tournament in 1992 and 1993. The following two seasons Cieplicki was an assistant for the Boston College Eagles women’s basketball team.

Following his two seasons at Boston College, Cieplicki once again returned to Burlington, taking over the girls program at Rice Memorial. The team had gone 2-18 in the season prior to his arrival, but two seasons later the program recorded a 12-9 mark. He remained at Rice until taking the reins of the Catamounts’ women’s team prior to the 1997-98 season.

University of Vermont

Cieplicki garnered the most success as the head coach for the Vermont women’s basketball program. The Catamounts accumulated a 127-53 overall record from 1997-2003, including berths in the 2000 NCAA Tournament [Vermont lost 65-60 in the opening round against Tulane.] and 2002 WNIT. [Vermont won two games in the 2002 WNIT but lost in the quarterfinals, 76-48, to Virginia Tech.] [http://www.suathletics.com/News/basketball/wbasket/2006/6/6/ciplickiresign.asp?path=wbasket Cieplicki Resigns as Head Women's Basketball Coach at Syracuse University – SU.edu] . Accessed October 7, 2008.]

In seven seasons with Cieplicki at the helm, the Vermont women’s basketball team won the America East Conference regular season title on three occasions (1998, 2000, 2002). He garnered personal accolades in addition to the team’s success; he was chosen as the Conference Coach of the Year twice (2000, 2002).

Eventually he left his home state and headed south to take over as the Syracuse University Orangewomen’s basketball program.

yracuse University

On April 30, 2002, Keith Cieplicki became just the fourth head women’s basketball coach in Syracuse’s history. He did not achieve the same level of success as previous positions, however, and much of his tenure was riddled with controversy and conflict. [http://media.www.dailyorange.com/media/storage/paper522/news/2004/04/22/Sports/Coach.Denies.Racial.Insensitivity.Disrespecting.Team-667877.shtml "The Daily Orange": Coach denies racial insensitivity, disrespecting team] . Accessed October 7, 2008.] While with the Orangewomen he posted a 28-55 overall record in four seasons. His most successful campaign came in 2004-05 when he guided the Orange to a 13-16 overall mark and the team’s first Big East Tournament victory since 2002 with a 65-58 triumph against Georgetown. On December 4, 2005, he recorded his 150th career coaching win at Canisius College.

Controversy

From the start, Cieplicki had a tumultuous run while at Syracuse. In his first year, four players (one anonymous) "accused [him] of threatening scholarships, being racially insensitive and acting disrespectfully to players and administrative staff." He denied those allegations, and deferred much of the criticism to a different coaching style from former head coach Marianna Freeman. The offended players claimed that Cieplicki would often say "What up, dog?", which they felt was disrespectful and demeaning to women. Despite producing a handful of All-Big East and All-Academic players he stayed for only four seasons, leaving his coaching legacy at Syracuse as a mixed and possibly tarnished one.

Life after basketball

Keith Cieplicki no longer coaches and resides in New York. He is currently the Director of Special Projects at Catholic Charities of Onondaga County. [ [http://www.ccoc.us/news.html# Catholic Charities of Onondaga County News Room] . Accessed October 7, 2008.]

References and footnotes

External links

* [http://thinkexist.com/quotes/keith_cieplicki/ Keith Cieplicki quotes]